Rod and pipe tongs



(No Model.)

D. B. WHITEHILL. ROD AND PIPE TONGS.

,214. Patented Nov. 11. 1890 II I 'UNETED STATE PATENT Urrrcn.

DAVID BROlVN VHITEHILL, OF NORTH CLARENDON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROD AND PIPE TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,214, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed April 3, 1890. Serial No. 346,415. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID BROWN WHITE- HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Clarendon, in the county of WVarren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rod and Pipe Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to rod and pipe tongs; and the objects and advantages of the invention, together with the novel features thereof, will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a pair of tongs constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the pivoted member, the bit removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective in detail of the bit. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the upper end of the pivoted member. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the adjusting-plate. Fig. (3 is at-ransverse section of the same.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 represents the stock of the wrench, which is straight and rectangular in cross-section and terminates at its upper end in a head 2, having a right-angular recess forming the fixed jaw of the tongs. The stock at its rear end is continued to form a bent handle 3, said handle being disposed at an oblique angle to the stock and having its extremity bent, as at 4, into substantial parallelism with the stock. The stock is provided with a series of perforations 5 and has its inner edge embraced by a U-shaped sliding plate 6,tl1e opposite edges of which are similarly recessed, as at 7, and

either pair of the recesses are adapted to be thrown into registry with any one of the perforations of the stock, and through the perforation and recesses there is inserted a locking-pin 9, having a transverse notch 10, into which is designed to take a spring-wire 11, secured upon the locking-plate, and thus prevent an accidental Withdrawal of the pin. Bands 12 have their ends secured to the opposite sides of the plate and embrace the shank or stop 1, so that said plate is movable up and down upon the stock. 13 represents the 0p- 5oposite member of the tongs, and the same consists of a straight handle 14, crossing the handle of the opposite member, and an enlarged head 15, inwardly curved and f ulcrumed, as at 16, upon a forwardly-projecting portion 17 at the upper end of the adjusting plate. The head mentioned is provided upon its upper surface with a square recess 19, and into the same is inserted the bit 20. The bit 20 is of cube-like shape, and is therefore provided with twelve biting-edges 21, either of which may be thrown into operative position by a reversal of the bit within its recess. The bit is maintained against accidental removal by meansof a flat spring 22, the free end of which rests thereagainst and the rear end of which is secured to the back of the pivoted member. The bit-recei ving recess is slightly longer than is the width of the same, so that the bit is permitted to have a slight play vertically Within the same, thereby increasing the efficiency with which the bit grips a pipe or rod.

It will be apparent that by the peculiar shape of the handles and the arrangement of the parts as described a very strong, powerful grip maybe easily secured and maintained upon a pipe or rod, and this without any undue marring or crushing of the same; also, that by reason of the removability and reversibility of the bit the efficiency of the tongs is greatly increased, and a single bit will last for a great len 't-h of time, and when at last worn out upon each of the twelve edges a new bit may be substituted therefor at a comparatively slight cost.

By means of the U-shaped adjusting-plate, the perforated stock, and adjusting-pin said plate may be quickly adjusted for various sizes of pipes and rods, and the light spring 11 serves to prevent any accidental withdrawal of the locking-pin, which latter is prevented from any possible loss by means of a cord or chain 22, connected to the pin and the U-shaped plate.

Having thus described my iuvention,what I claim is- 1. In a pair of tongs, the com'biuatiomwith astock terminating in a head provided with a rectangular recess for the reception of a pipe, of a pivot-ed member terminating in a head provided with an inclined recess or socket of oblong shape or slightly greater in length than in width, a removable cube-shaped bit loosely mounted in the recess or socket and free to move therein, and a light fiat spring ICO secured to the pivoted member and bearing recesses of the plate and .the perforation of upon the bit, substantially as specified. the stock and provided with a transverse 2. The combination,with the stock provided notch, and a light spring-Wire secured to the [5 with an upper fixed head and below the same plate and adapted to take into the notch of 5 with a series of perforations, of a U-shaped the pin, substantially as specified.

plate partially embracing the stock and hav In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ing its edges oppositely recessed, adapted to my own I have hereto affixed my signature in be thrown into alignment wit the perforapresence of two witnesses.

tions of the stock, a lever pivoted to the plate DAVID BROWN WHITEHILL. IO and provided with a bit adapted to coact with W'itnesses:

the fixed head of the stock, a locking-pin S. ADAMS,

adapted for insertion through the aligning JOSEPH HOPKENS. 

